Senator Tim Sheehy Discusses Defense Acquisition Reform
During a policy debate hosted by Breitbart News on Wednesday, Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) remarked on a rare point of agreement between Republicans and Democrats: the need for reform in defense acquisition, particularly in the context of rising threats from Communist China.
Sheehy stated, “We all agree we need to rebuild our Navy, modernize our Air Force, and boost our recruiting efforts. But there’s a significant issue with our industrial base, especially regarding aerospace and defense capabilities. While we possess the most advanced military technology globally, the Pentagon has concentrated too much on processes rather than outcomes, leading to a failure in prioritizing the necessary quantity of equipment.”
He added, “Quality is essential, no doubt. But if we have one top-tier fighter and the enemy fields 100 decent ones, that imbalance will ultimately lead to our defeat.”
In his discussion, Sheehy pointed out a report indicating that China is constructing ships “230 times faster” than the U.S. Navy. “So, for every ship we manage to build, they’re cranking out 230. Considering our Navy consists of roughly 230 ships, they could potentially match our entire fleet in a year. While that’s concerning, the sheer numbers are what matter, especially when our ships have to traverse 7,000 miles to project power in areas that could deny us access,” he noted.
Sheehy emphasized the need to cut through the “bureaucracy” surrounding defense acquisitions. He mentioned, “The risks tied to these bureaucratic processes are directly handed over to the warfighter.”
He acknowledged pushback for his approach, saying, “Many people are upset because those embedded in process-oriented positions at the Department of Defense feel we’ve invested years into establishing these processes, and now I’m advocating for changes. The defense industry isn’t fond of this shift, either, as it disrupts the foundations on which they built their business. But at the end of the day, my responsibility is to the young soldier who needs support on the ground.”
He closed with a note of caution, stating, “I truly hope we can avoid another large-scale conflict, but history suggests otherwise. We’re likely heading into tough times, especially with China emerging as a formidable military presence. We need to be ready.”
